The book

In a small town in the Ark-LATex region, Detective Jim Beaudry Bonham has been assigned a new case: a woman has been brutally attacked and nailed to a cross on the outskirts of town the day after a devastating storm hits. Bonham recognizes her immediately as Dr. Deborah Gold, one of the town’s most well known psychologists. Knowing how many secrets Dr. Gold took to her grave, Bonham’s list of suspects grows by the minute—as well as the questions that help explain just how and why such a gruesome murder was committed. With the help of complex, fully realized characters (the town itself being one of them), Blackbird is not only an intelligent crime novel, but also an in-depth exploration of small-town life and how it is affected by extreme violence and savagery. Wright’s comprehensive description of the setting and characters beautifully juxtaposes the unknowns surrounding the murder, making Blackbird a refreshing and welcome addition to the crime canon.

The author

Tom Wright
What Dies in Summer, Tom Wright's debut novel, was a New York Times Editor's Pick and a finalist for the Crime Writer's Association Dagger Awards. A Texas native, Wright is a licensed and practicing psychologist in Texarkana, Texas.